Lubricator.



No. 672,4l5. Patented Apr. I6. Ism.

w. w. DODGE.,

LuBmcAToR.

'Application med Nov. 14. 1900.v (No Modal.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

arrrr tripa WILLIAM W. DODGE, OF BROOKLYN, NEV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MICHIGAN LUBRICATOR COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

Luenioa'roa.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 672,415, dated .April 16, 190i.

Application led November 14, 1900. eerial No. 86,520. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern,.- which contains my improvement; 3, a Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. DODGE, a side elevation of the saine with the wall citizen of theUnited States, residing at Brookbroken away to show the interior; Fig. 4, a lyn, in the county of Kings and State of NewV side elevation similar to Fig. l, but showing 5 York, have invented certain new and useful a modified embodiment of the invention.

Improvements in Lubricators, of which the A indicates a boiler or steam-generator; B, following is a specification. a steam-cylinder; O, a valve-chest; D, a lu- This invention pertains to lubricating apbricator, here represented as of the balanced paratus for engines, and is designed more es-` hydrostatic sight-feed class, having a reser- 6o zo pecially for use in connection with modern voir a, boiler-connection pipe b, and equalhigh pressure locomotives, though not reiZer-pipe c, and E a pipe or duct for conveystricted to such use. inglubricant from the reservoir a'to the valve- The invention is in the nature of an imchest or other place to which it is to loe supprovement upon that set forth in Letters Patplied, commonly called the tallow-pipe. I5 ent No. 657,924, dated September 18, 1900, F indicates a shell, usually termed a granted upon an application filed in the name choke-plug, for the reason that it contains of George B. Essex. a passage for the lubricant, which passage It consists, essentially, in suppressing or may be reduced or choked down to lessen the dispensing with the separate or secondary fiow of steam and lubricant at proper times. 7o 2o opening or by -pass in the choke-plug dia- The choke plug orshell Fhas formed within phragm and providing in lieu thereof a conit a diaphragm or partition e, through which stantly open passage directly through the is a Way or passage d, advisably of the same ball-valve. By this change I avoid the nearea as the tallow-pipe or thereabout. The cessity of drilling the small hole through said partitiQn e is advisably though not necessa- 25 diaphragm and overcome the liability of the rily set at au angle of about forty-live degrees ny-pass becoming clogged or partially closed to the horizon to cause the automatic unseatby battering its mouth. By forming the bying of its valve by gravity when subjected to pass or constantly-open passage in the valve substantially equal lpressure on opposite itself with a series of intersecting branches I sides. i y 8o 3o insure repeated change of direction of iow G indicates a ball-valve, which normally,

of steam and oil through said passage, owing occupies the position indicated in Fig. 3, leavto the frequently-changing position of the ing the port or passage d open and unobball or valve, and I thus secure a constant structed. When, however, the throttle is scouring or clearing of the branch passages. closed, the forward pressure of steam by way 35 Since all the branch passages intersect at the of the lubricator will lift the ball or valve and center of the ball or valve, it is apparent that place it upon its seat at the mouth of port or no matter how many branch passages may be opening d, as illustrated in Fig. 2. If the brought within the area of the opening in the valve were solid and fitted perfectly to its diaphragm or partition the area of the byseat, all communication between the lubri- 9o 4o pass or ,constantly-open passage is only that cant-reservoir and the valve-chest would obof the central space or opening produced viously be cut ott through the seating of the by the intersection of the branch passages. valve. It is, however, desirable to maintain Hence the capacity of the by-pass will be concommunication constantly between them in stant whatever be the position ofthe ball or order to permit constant feeding of the lubri- 45 valve upon its seat. cant and to automatically vary or increase Referring now to the accompanying drawthe size of the passway, so as to prevent the ings, Figure l is a side elevation in the naformation of a water seal in the tallcwpipe ture of a diagram of a locomotive boiler, cyl- "when the throttle of the engine is open. To inder, and valve-chest, with my lubricating this end I drill the ball. or valve with aseries roo 5o apparatus applied thereto; Fig. 2, a longituof radial holes f, which meeting or intersectdinal sectional view of the chokeplug ing at the center of the ball form a centralA opening or cavity of approximately the same diameter as the individual holesf. The number of these holes may vary, and their diameter Will be greater or less as required in any given case. In practice six such radial holes or three holes passing entirely through the ball and intersecting at its center at right angles Will be found to answer Well. With a valve-seat properly proportioned to the diameter of the ball or valve but one hole or passage can fall Within its boundaries, though it will be impossible to prevent one hole thus coming within its limits. As indicated, however, I do not restrict myself as to the nurnber of holes or passages, nor is the number a matter of importance provided they be so spaced that at least one shall come Within the boundaries of the passage d Whenever the lval ve is seated.

While it is preferred to provide the intersecting passages for reasons stated,l quite good results are attainable through the use of independent passages. I-Ience I do not Wish to'be understood as restricting myself to their intersection in all cases.

In the drawings I have represented a sightfeed lubricator of the hydrostatic feed variety provided with an equalizing-pipe c; but while in practice I may and frequently prefer to use a lubricator of this character provided With the equalizer-pipe this is not essential. The talloW-pipes may be directly tapped into the boiler and the oil-,delivery arms of the lubricator tapped into said tallow -pipes, thereby rendering the equalizer pipes unnecessary. In other Words, the equalizer-pipe c ofa Fig. 1 can be omitted and direct communication made from the boiler to the talshown such.

low-pipe, as shown in Fig. 4, all else remaining unchanged. The equalizing veffect will, under such construction and arrangement, be attained by the free passage of steam into the talloW-pipe from both ends when the throttle is open, and the iiow Will at other times be restricted by the automatic seating kof the valve.

. to and from its seat subject only tol the directV pressure of the steam on its opposite faces and to gravity, that being mounted in an open space and free to shift about at will the valve will constantly change its position, and therefore Wear evenly, maintaining its original form. Being wholly contained yWithin the talloW-pipe and subject to the direct action of the steam, it Will be kept clean and prevented from clogging, binding, or becoming in any manner inoperative. The spherical or sub- 'stantially spherical form of the valve permits it to make at least a partial rotation in'any direction or about different axes, so that a large Wearing-surface is insured, and the Wear being thus distributed over a relatively large area will be slow and even. While a perfectly free ball capableof completely rotating in all directions affords the most satisfactory results and is rendered possible by employment of the intersecting passages, quite good results are obtainable Where that portion of the valve which comes in contact with `the seat is of spherical or partially spherical form, so as to permit a rocking or turning of the valve about different axes. So long, therefore, as this feature is retained and provision is made for keeping a passage `or opening always Within the limits or boundaries of the valve-seat, I consider the construction as Within the spirit and scope of my invention.

The claims herein are to be understood as restricted to a valve having a hole or perforation or a series of holes or perforations, as distinguished from mere grooves or channels. Such construction possessesy the advantage over grooves or channels that it provides a permanent and fixed area of passage for steam andoil, which area cannot be varied by tendency of steam to force the valve aside in passing through the hole or perforation, as might happen with a groove or channel.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. In a lubricating apparatus for engines, the combination of a lubricant-reservoir; a pipe for connecting the reservoir With a steam boiler or generator; a pipe or duct connecting the reservoir With the chamber to Which lubricantis to be supplied; an equalizer-pipe; a diaphragm or partition in the pipe or duct through which the lubricant is delivered, provided Witha passage foi` the lubricant and With a valve-seat; and a valve free to move to and from said seat and to rock or turn about different axes, and provided with a series of holes or perforations so spaced that the mouth of at least one hole or perforation shall fall Within the area of the valve-seat and lubricant-passage, Whenever the valve is seated.

2. In a lubricating apparatus for engines, the combination of a lubricant-reservoir; a pipe for connecting the reservoir with a steam boiler or generator; a pipe or duct connecting the reservoir to the chamber to Which 1ubricant is to be supplied; adiaphragm or partition in the pipe or duct through which the lubricant is delivered, provided with a passage for the lubricant and with a valve-seat; and a valve mounted to move freely to and from said seat and to rock or turn about different axes, and provided With a series of holes or perforations so spaced that the mouth of atleast one hole or perforation shall fall IOO within the area of the lubricant passage whenever the valve is seated.

3. A choke-plug for the tallow-pipe of engines, provided with a diaphragm or partition having a passage through it, and a valveseat; and a valve mounted to freely move to and from said seat and to rock or turn upon different axes, and provided with perforations in such relation as to permit a limited passage of steam, lubricant, or both, in whatever position the valve is seated.

4.. A choke-plug for engine-lubricators, provided with a diaphragm or partition hav ing a passage through it, and a valve-seat; and a valve having a series of intersecting holes or passages through it, and movable to and from the valve-seat and free to rook or turn upon different axes; the space at the intersection of the passage serving as a common passage and gage for all the passages, and determining the quantity of lubricant that may at any time pass through the valve.

5. A choke-plug for the tallow-pipes of engines provided with a partition having a passage through it, and with a valve free to seat over and unseat from said passage and to rock about an'aXis transverse with respect to said passage; and a valve having a plurality of perforations so spaced that at least one perforation shall provide communication be; tween the spaces on opposite sides of the par tition in whatever position the valve may be seated.

6. In combination with a shell containing a passage for steam and lubricant, and proL vided with a valve-seat, a valve having a spherical portion to rest upon said seat and perforated to permit the passage of steam and lubricant through it, the valve being free to rock or turn about different axes, and the perforation being so arranged as to maintain at all times an opening through the valve and within the boundaries or limits of the valve-seat.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

WILLIAM W. DODGTE.

Witnesses:

HORACE A. DODGE, DUDLEY E. BURDINE. 

